Honda 2.3hp Outboard

Richard10002 said:
I have had some success recently writing to suppliers and quoting the Sale of Goods Act, as per the Money Saving Expert. Goods must be fit for purpose, amongst other things.

I make it clear that I am going to court if they don't satisfy me, (and I would), and, in two cases this year, the companies concerned have resolved the issue to my satisfaction - Sterling Power and Richer Sounds. In both cases I emailed the letter as well as posting with signed for delivery. In both cases, I got a response to my email the next morning.

You can be pretty sure that Honda won't want to go to court, where a judge will be deciding whether to believe the consumer, or the big company.

Worth a try, as you have nothing to lose. Even if you have to issue a summons, it's about £80 or so, and I always treat it as worth the money for the education and experience, even if I were to lose.

Takes a bit of time to write the letter and make it read right
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Doesn't the 'Sale of Goods Act', give a 6 year window (under European Rules) if a product is patently defective in manufacture?
 
not sure

alant said:
Doesn't the 'Sale of Goods Act', give a 6 year window (under European Rules) if a product is patently defective in manufacture?
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I am not entirely sure that this outboard was defective in manufacture and to prove that it was would be a tough thing to do

the problem is that some-where along the chain between it leaving the factory and being started it got wet or excessively damp


Dylan
 
Always surprises me why companies fight these kind of battles for small ticket items.As if there is a myriad of customers willing to go to untold trouble to con them by deliberately damaging their new products in order to get them replaced.What benefit would it be to the customer? What an opportunity to gain some goodwill and good publicity.
 
dylanwinter said:
I am not entirely sure that this outboard was defective in manufacture and to prove that it was would be a tough thing to do

the problem is that some-where along the chain between it leaving the factory and being started it got wet or excessively damp


Dylan
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The Sale of Goods Act implies certain terms into every contract for sale in England and Wales (similar but different terms in Scotland) under section 14, these being that they be of the stated description, of satisfactory quality and fit for purpose.

I have put forward arguments that an outbourd that does not survive on a holding bracket on a push pit clear of the water for a period of six months is not of sufficient durability (one of the requirements specified in the SGA for a good to be of "satisfactory quality"). This could either be caused by manufacturing defect or inherent design fault or any other reason.

I will keep this thread udated with developments under the SGA arguments that I put to the retailer several days ago, but I fear that I will be the small guy left holding the can, rather than the recipient of any grand gestures of goodwill.
 
completely agree

Billows said:
Always surprises me why companies fight these kind of battles for small ticket items.As if there is a myriad of customers willing to go to untold trouble to con them by deliberately damaging their new products in order to get them replaced.What benefit would it be to the customer? What an opportunity to gain some goodwill and good publicity.
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I agree

forums posts such as this do the company no good at all and I think that they would be better off just replacing the engine and asking the OP to run it in before stroring it in the open air for long periods - or even putting it in a locker

however, I sometimes think that we over-estimate the power of the web

just threatening to go public on your woes really does not cut the mustard

I just typed

Honda 2.3 outboard review into Google

it would take an almighty stink for this sort of thread to rise to the surface

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=H...s=org.mozilla:en-GB:official&client=firefox-a

The engine is around £700 - maybe £500 for them to replace it

has this discussion done £500 worth of damage to the reputation of Honda?

I doubt it

the money would be better spent on some web optimisation to make sure that it is only good news that bubbles to the top of the 250,000 google hits

d
 
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I think they could be asserted to show rather than just guess that it was dunked , if that really is their claim.

If it had been dunked there would be other evidence. there is a disappointing amount of mild steel on these engines, the cable and clamps, the park up spring & pivot, even the 4 m6x100 bolts that hold the centrifugal clutch together that are only a few centimetres above the designed waterline. these have 10mm heads on , but I had to hammer a 7mm socket on to get it undone, so corroded were their heads.

I was a confirmed Honda user ( I had 5 bikes and a car, all were reliable), but my 2.3 has been disappointing, the carb bleed screw has seized, the engine has nil tolerance to condensation in fuel , no filter, and the clutch slips and unlike the bikes its noisier than I like. I regularly have to drop the carb bowl even for fuel less than a month old bought in a clean can and left in the tender. I am trying to fit a filter/water trap, but theres not much room.
 
The last two outboards I've bought have both been Honda 2.3.
Even though I am satisfied with my Honda 2.3 these posts mean I am far more likely to look at alternatives next time.
There must be a Honda dealer or two on here who can shed some light on Honda UK Customer Service attitudes.
 
nothing to gain

Talulah said:
The last two outboards I've bought have both been Honda 2.3.
Even though I am satisfied with my Honda 2.3 these posts mean I am far more likely to look at alternatives next time.
There must be a Honda dealer or two on here who can shed some light on Honda UK Customer Service attitudes.
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I doubt that any of them have, or ever will, see this thread

and even if they did feel that it would be worth saying anything then all they could say is that Honda are wonderful

unless they want to stop being Honda dealers that is

Dylan
 
sbrown said:
The Sale of Goods Act implies certain terms into every contract for sale in England and Wales (similar but different terms in Scotland) under section 14, these being that they be of the stated description, of satisfactory quality and fit for purpose.

I have put forward arguments that an outbourd that does not survive on a holding bracket on a push pit clear of the water for a period of six months is not of sufficient durability (one of the requirements specified in the SGA for a good to be of "satisfactory quality"). This could either be caused by manufacturing defect or inherent design fault or any other reason.

I will keep this thread udated with developments under the SGA arguments that I put to the retailer several days ago, but I fear that I will be the small guy left holding the can, rather than the recipient of any grand gestures of goodwill.
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You will be the small guy holding the can unless you issue a summons. Money claim online is very simple and straightforward. If hey have decided not to play ball, and perceive no legal threat, they will toy with you. Are you dealing directly with Honda, or a dealer.
 
dylanwinter said:
I doubt that any of them have, or ever will, see this thread

and even if they did feel that it would be worth saying anything then all they could say is that Honda are wonderful

unless they want to stop being Honda dealers that is

Dylan
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Simply post the thread to Honda UK, that should encourage them to sort it out, or at least provide a comment.
 
Conclusion

After protracted discussions with the retailer and Honda I'm pleased to say that my engine was replaced with a brand new engine, with Honda and the retailer bearing half of the cost each. I did make reference to the relevant provisions of section 14 of the Sale of Goods Act as to goods being of satisfactory quality and fit for purpose and ultimately did have to say I was prepared to have the matter heard infront of a County Court judge under the small claims procedures before getting to this conclusion, so I echo some of the other posters that it is worth standing on your statutory rights.
 
Honda 2.3 hp

Bought one in 2008, at the end of the season it is brought ashore and washed, dried and stored in the garage. 4 years on numerous fastenings are rusty and the carb drain screw is completely seized into the carb body.
Whilst the engine starts OK I cannot understand Honda's use of fastenings not up to the marine environment.
 
Highland laddie said:
Bought one in 2008, at the end of the season it is brought ashore and washed, dried and stored in the garage. 4 years on numerous fastenings are rusty and the carb drain screw is completely seized into the carb body.
Whilst the engine starts OK I cannot understand Honda's use of fastenings not up to the marine environment.
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I second that. I replaced nearly all the fastenings on mine with S/S equivalents as they were all rusty. These engines are noisy, hard to start and have a tendency to kick back when pulling the starter and try to break your wrist...

Mine sits permanently on my push pit in the weather and no problems in three years so I agree the engine must have been faulty. Well done getting a replacement.

I will buy a Yamaha next time....

P
 
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sbrown said:
After protracted discussions with the retailer and Honda I'm pleased to say that my engine was replaced with a brand new engine, with Honda and the retailer bearing half of the cost each. I did make reference to the relevant provisions of section 14 of the Sale of Goods Act as to goods being of satisfactory quality and fit for purpose and ultimately did have to say I was prepared to have the matter heard infront of a County Court judge under the small claims procedures before getting to this conclusion, so I echo some of the other posters that it is worth standing on your statutory rights.
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Good result, well done.

Now, I wonder how many people will continue to post solutions to your original
question!
 
Not happy with Honda 2.3

Highland laddie said:
Bought one in 2008, at the end of the season it is brought ashore and washed, dried and stored in the garage. 4 years on numerous fastenings are rusty and the carb drain screw is completely seized into the carb body.
Whilst the engine starts OK I cannot understand Honda's use of fastenings not up to the marine environment.
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I bought a Honda 2.3 in 2006, it has been regularly used each year but not excessive.
It has always started easily and run without problem, however, Corrosion, especially rust on steel parts is worse than a 1997 Mercury 5 I also have. Both engines bought by me new.

I bought the Honda because of it's low weight and being 4 stroke don't need to add 2T oil.
I was dissapointed in it's noise levels from day 1 and still am. It's noisy and smelly.
Another problem it has always had from new is oil leaking dripping down from under the vents, this has stained the dinghy. It has never been overfilled and has always been stored either upright (clamped to the pushpit or a timber at home). When laid down it has always been stored on it's starboard side (tiller up) as instructed. The only other orientation it sees is leaning back (on transom with prop raised out of water, or carrying handle up (being carried), It still leaks and I have to top it up.

Overall I'm dissapointed with Honda on this one.
Wish I'd bought something else.
 
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